Lincoln Family Trail

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Historical Marker #73 in Breckinridge County recognizes the path that Abraham Lincoln's family took when leaving Kentucky in 1816. Abraham Lincoln recounted the reason for this move as "partly on account of slavery; but chiefly on account of the difficulty in land titles in Kentucky."

Challenges to land titles were common in the early years of Kentucky, and the experience of Thomas Lincoln was no exception. Thomas fought to keep his two farms near Hodgenville, Kentucky, but was compelled to vacate each due to the competing claims of other land owners.

The westward migration of the Lincoln family was not uncommon, as many Kentucky families moved to the newly organized states of Indiana (1816) and Illinois (1818).

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Lincoln's "Pilgrimage": Hand painted postcard showing image of the homes of Abraham Lincoln during his lifetime. Homes are his birthplace in Hodgenville, KY, Lincoln City IN, Decatur, IL, one of his homes in New Salem, IL, Springfield, IL, The White House, and his grave site in Springfield, IL.
Image Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical SocietyAbraham Lincoln: In addition to being the birthplace of Lincoln, Kentucky was home to Lincoln's wife, best friend, law partners, and business associates. Although he left the bluegrass state as a young boy, these relationships with Kentuckians played a major role in forging his personal and political life. Lincoln's connections to Kentucky and his appreciation for the importance of the commonwealth to the Union cause further strengthened Lincoln's bonds to the history of this state.
Image Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society